Unseasonal showers push up onion prices

Unseasonal showers during Diwali have sent onion prices soaring. Wholesale traders at Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) said onion crops have been destroyed because of rain and that prices are likely to be high until next week.

Unseasonal showers during Diwali have sent onion prices soaring. Wholesale traders at Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) said onion crops have been destroyed because of rain and that prices are likely to be high until next week.

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Ashok Walunj, director of APMC, said: “The rains have destroyed onion crops in the villages. This has affected supply to the market. The shortage has led to the price rise.”

The wholesale price of onion has gone up from Rs 25 a kg to Rs 28. In the retail market, onion is selling at Rs 35 per kg compared to last week’s Rs 25 per kg.

Sunil Hande, an onion trader, said: “Demand for onion has increased, but the supply is low. We have no choice but to increase rates. The prices should come down in a week's time.

We hope there are no more rains or the situation will be worse.”